Kick in the Eye is the alternative Melbourne jewellery label inspired by kink, punk and Vivienne Westwood
PHOTOGRAPHY BY RENEE LEAH FOR KICK IN THE EYE
WORDS BY IZZY WIGHT
“[It’s] lots of chain and saturated gemstones… sometimes kinky, sometimes kitsch, genderless and universal.”
Before founding her alternative jewellery label Kick in the Eye, multidisciplinary designer Antonia Pantazis was at a creative standstill. Like a lot of artistically inclined people, she had self-professed defiance when it came to settling into the traditional professional world. Out of curiosity, she enrolled in a short jewellery course.
It was here she was able to hone in on her jewellery-making skills before founding Kick in the Eye in 2018. Merging her love of fashion, shiny metal and vintage fetish illustrations, Antonia created a collection of meticulously crafted sterling silver pieces. Four years on, her range is characterised by handmade chains, pierced hoops and details that remind wearers of love, lust and desire.
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Now stocked in local multi-brand boutiques like Sucker, So Familia and Bizarre Bazaar, Antonia has carved out a niche for tough, sex-inspired jewellery with soft, feminine details. Below, she shares the label’s journey so far.
Tell us about you. What’s your fashion background?
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I’m Antonia, I’ve solely run Kick in the Eye since starting this label in 2018. Creating has always been at the forefront of what I do and where I channel my energy. I have a background in fine art and studied in multiple disciplines.
Eventually, I found the influences and events I was [being] drawn to [were primarily in] fashion, style and local designers. I’ve always had a pretty strong work ethic but defiance settling into jobs, so it makes sense that I’m here now.
How did the label get started? Talk us through the process and the challenges.
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I was at a standstill and enrolled in a jewellery short course, pretty much out of curiosity… metal was a material I hadn’t worked with before. I also realised I’d be able to then make the rings [I envisioned] in my mind that I either couldn’t find or couldn’t afford. It started as something to fill in time but quickly became all of my time from that point on.
Coming from a place of making art recklessly, my main challenge was swerving into structured techniques; on a scale based around millimetres. [It] took a bit of zen to get on top of. As for an ongoing challenge, I think it can be tough balancing something you love doing as your sole income. A capitalist existential crisis has no place in the creative process!
Kick in the Eye was more of a passion project at the beginning and launched without a business-focused lens, which I think was a nice way to start.
What were you trying to achieve from the project at the time? How has this evolved and what are you trying to communicate through the brand now?
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I mainly just wanted to enjoy exploring a bunch of ideas and designs through jewellery… I was (and still am) inspired by vintage fetish illustrations and photography, Vivienne Westwood’s Sex store era, early goth and punk subculture aesthetics and music.
I wanted my work to be included in projects bigger than my own… I found the idea of making jewellery for a context outside my studio exciting. I still love seeing pieces come to life when [I’m] collaborating on shoots with other creatives. Lately, I’ve started to step away from driving the narrative of my work and instead letting the jewellery speak for itself.
How would you describe Kick in the Eye to someone who’s never seen it before?
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It’s alternative glam-classic jewellery handmade with love, lust and desire. [It’s] lots of chain and saturated gemstones… sometimes kinky, sometimes kitsch, genderless and universal shiny precious metal.
Where did the name come from?
My BFF was dancing on our balcony one night to the song ‘Kick in the Eye’ and after weeks of being stuck, I decided on [the brand’s] title. It felt fitting to reference the band Bauhaus for the goth music/fashion influence, so I spontaneously went with it.
What are you most proud of in your work on your label?
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I’m proud when I catch my work out in the wild. It makes me happy to see the range of people who wear my jewellery and the way it merges into so many different personal styles and scenes.
What do you wish you knew when you started?
How to value my time and forecast burnout, which I’m still working on!
Who do you think is most exciting in the local creative industry right now?
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In general, I think small brands doing pop-ups or physical stores is the most exciting thing I’m seeing. So much of running a label has to do with being constantly online… it’s awesome when space is made in real life for people to be present with brands offline. [Like the store] Sucker, which I’m stocked at… stores that collect and uplift a whole range of local independent brands IRL.
Dream local collaborators?
I’d love to immortalise my favourite tattoo artists’ designs in metal. Tough Sticker and I have a little collab we are releasing this month.
Go-to dinner party playlist?
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Who is in your wardrobe right now?
Obsessed with Pigsuit and vintage [pieces] from Oblivion Cult.
How can we buy one of your pieces?
Through my website and Sucker, So Familia, Blonde Concept and Bizarre Bazaar.
Anything else to add?
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Slow fashion is where it’s at.
Browse the Kick in the Eye collection here.
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